What are Dutch Hex Signs?

Why Dutch Hex Signs?

About 15 years ago I discovered the Dutch Hex Signs. Though I’ve been sketching for most of my life, for the last 50 years my focus has mainly been on my welding and my carving creations and historical re-creations. The Dutch Hex Signs were just too awesome to resist though. They have such a rich and historical symbology (two of my favorite things – history and symbology).

(I like to call them Deutsch Hex Signs – which drives my daughter, and editor, crazy. So this is the last you will see of that spelling from here on. Depending on your viewpoint, it’s either the ancient spelling for ‘Dutch’, or the German word for ‘German’. My daughter thinks, since the ancient word therefore predates the hex sign system, it’s silly to call them that. Especially when they are ‘Pennsylvania Dutch Hex Signs’. As in – Dutch American creations, although they are based in large part on historical Dutch symbols. And that’s enough of that.)

Dutch Hex signs have, in relatively recent history, become popular decorations on the sides of ‘Fancy’ Dutch American barns – as, variously, symbols, to communicate meanings, as good luck charms, and as decoration. This practice is similar to how some cultures commonly paint barn stars on barns. There’s some argument that the practice of putting the Hex signs on barns was developed from a combination of the popular barn stars, and the traditional symbols the Dutch have been using for for many years on their celebratory documents.

Wherever they came from though, they’ve developed a language and a system all of their own, and I’ve very much enjoyed playing with the symbols and creating my own designs. They are a beautiful and unique language, and can speak volumes, all in a single image.

Some of my favorite symbols:

The Distelfink birds symbolize good luck.

The Pineapple is a symbol of hospitality.

The 8 pointed star is a symbol of regeneration or redemption, and stars in general are symbols for luck.

The 7 pointed violet star is a symbol of the protection of God and the seven days of creation.

And finally, below is my own quick and dirty reference guide. There are much more comprehensive reference guides elsewhere in books and online, but this should give you some ideas, if you want to start playing with making your own. I’ve collected these from a bunch of other sources, so this isn’t from me, it’s just a pared down list of a lot of info from a bunch of other folks.:

Colors:

Black – Protection

Blue – Spirituality

Brown – “Earth, friendship, strength”

Green – Fertility

Orange – Abundance

Red – Passion

Purple – Sacred

White – Purity

Yellow – “Health, Love, Sun, Connection To God”

Shapes:

Star – luck and protection (there are lots of variations and specific meanings of specific types of stars)